nk Clusive! Journal of Literary of Arts Vancouver Community College Department of Humanities English Volume II (Fall 2024) Ackowledgements Faculty Advisor: William Roszell Journal participants: Layout and Presentation: Gemma Lee Ulep Sofia Morillo Sara Darvish Anna Karapetyan Revision, Editing, Submission: Lama Khalil Nesrine Hadraoui Parisa Vakili This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercialNoDerivatives 4.0 International License. 1 Table of Content Acknowledgement 1 Table of Content 2 Fixed Verse Poem 3 The Child in Me 4 Again is Autumn 5 Become Stranger 6 Star 7 In You 8 The Sound of Silence 9 Waiting for Fall Moon 10 Ballad of Alan Kurdi 11 Free Verse Poem 12 Character My Love For You Whispers in the Night The Sound of Silence I Love 13 14 15 16 17 18 2 Fixed Verse Poems 4 3 The Child in Me -Lama Khalil When I reflect on what I wished to be, I see the stars and long to touch the moon. Though time has grown the child that lives in me, I can’t resist but play and hum a tune. No matter what I’ve fought or what I’ve lost, I rise each day with pride I set aside. The child in me still slides, though at a cost: “Embrace the self and learn to love the ride.” But still, I gamble standing on the edge. I might just fall, yet risk is what I take. The child in me is wild but makes her pledge, She hides and seeks the chance she dares to make And on my journey to the stars, I’ll stay, For in the child, I find my strength each day. 4 Again is Autumn -Anna Karapetyan Again is Autumn, the forest dressed in red, And gold and green as sky above has shed, And leaves are dancing from a breeze of wind, To rustle softly, and sing a beauty about that girl, The girl with golden hair, she’s always so light, Her charm has won the brave boy’s heart in night. Oh Autumn, tender with your gentle grace, You have captured me with your colorful embrace! Your beauty fills the air with colors of bloom, A masterpiece within the reining gloom Cannot depict your beauty dressed up, In red and yellow, colors beautified... Oh, Autumn how can you be glorified! As day turns short beneath the autumn sun, Stay with me this unbind fleeting time, For in your amazing arms, fresh peace I want to find, Oh Autumn, tender with your gentle stare... As that boy who fell in love with the girl with golden hair! 5 Become Stranger -Gemma Lee Ulep We were once full of kindness and sweetness. Chasing the sunset, golden as we go And now our heart ache, full of bitterness. Set our mind, choosing dream to become pro. We don’t speak, but still side by side we walk. The silence grows and sorrow starts to cling. Setting your border as strong as Hulk’s talk You mark my soul using sharpies that sting. A verdict cast before the facts are known That gossip spread, and caused you to depart. You know that I am fealty, truly known. You listened close, but never heard my heart. My dearest friend, become a cold stranger By ending it with a lot of anger. 6 Star -Parisa Vakili In darkest night, from deep within the stars, I drift to you, a light that shines so bright. On gentle winds, we float beyond our scars. We’ll shine that night beneath the moon’s soft light, When lips that thirst, with hearts that yearn ignite, As sparks will kiss your fiery lips so tight. The day will come when our two souls entwine, When sun and moon will rise and dance for us As love will bloom, our hearts in perfect line. 7 In You -Sofia Morillo In you, I witness radiant light arise, A goal of laughter, wild and free, bright sea. Your little hands reach out, eager to be Untouched by fear, in joy’s enduring flight. With every step you take, my heart is bright; With love so true, your spirit dance is glee. In spring’s embrace, like blossoms, you are free; Keep in your heart the fire that lights the night. When day surrenders to dusk’s golden crest, You are my gentle glow within my armsA soothing presence calming all my woes, The storm has ceased; your breath’s a soft hymn. In hidden corners, shadows weave a nest, Wherever you roam, my love will always flow. 8 The Sound of Silence -Sarah Darvish The night descends, and shadows thickly creep, A breeze whispers the end in gentle grace, Beneath the stars, the earth begins to sleep. In every breath, a silent pulse we chase, The hour draws near when hearts must still their beat, Yet none can halt the closing of their race. In final dusk, all souls will calmly meet, No cry to sound, nor plea to stay the hand, For death, it treads with sure and steady feet. 9 Waiting for Fall Moon -Nesrine Hadraoui Waiting for fall moon to see my reflections freed On yielding waters 10 Ballad of Alan Kurdi -Lama Khalil Behind the blocks of broken land, Where once a boy had home, Before he knew, he grew to fear, Was forced to leave and roam. He turned to sea, but sea rebelled, Swelled waves that pushed him down. No hand was raised to pull him up As he began to drown. The seashore held his body tight, Wrapped arms around his frame. His childhood dreams lay shattered, torn, But who’s the one to blame? His photos streamed around the world, And people shook their heads. The pictures found a place to rest, While lives were cut to shreds. A small, still, boy without a soul, His silence shakes the shore. No chance to grow, or love, but now He sleeps with fear no more. 11 Free Verse Poems 4 12 Character -Gemma Lee Ulep A genuine person with gratitude Calm surrounding is what they prefer Crowd areas make them overwhelmed. Mostly have own world to see. Some of them are shy, soft-spoken and restrained. Very mindful, very demure, very modest, Their Character misunderstood by others, Introvert by name, and Lone wolf is the common. 13 My Love -Anna Karapetyan You’re so close... And far from me My love, Like that ocean, On the mist of which, You cannot see the limit Of the infinity, But you can hear The murmur of the waves... You are far, At the time so close, Like sunset pattern, That is hanging on the sky, And endless ocean beauty With the burning view. Oh, sunset beauty, Oh, my love… You warm my soul, With your handsome gaze, And your striking eyes, That shade of green. But you are far... Far from me...my love! Like that sunset pattern With the entrancing charm, Which is hanging on the ocean, But which can never merge! 14 For You -Parisa Vakili These yellow leaves don’t fall for autumn; they wait for your passing, racing to carpet your path. The sparrows don’t sing from habit; they practice a welcome hymn, ready for you. Rain falls for you, while the rainbow holds its colourful umbrella over your head, eager to greet your arrival. The breeze, comes and goes, dreaming of slipping through your hair, to steal your scent. The earth and the clock move for you and I orbit around you. 15 Whispers of the Night -Sofia Morillo I fly across the seas with hope that’s in my heart. outside is loud, my mind finds peace inside. I seek the right words, yet drift in all the noise. In every face, I glimpse a life scene. The soil I knew now echoes distant joys. I dream my feet might find new ground to tread. The roots I’ve carried whisper of distant joys. Each day past and present spreads, a blended life, where the shadow stands. In the darkness under this enchanting foreign sky, a place where the stars still dance is my first sight. 16 The Sound of Silence -Sarah Darvish I trace the skyline; No corner is found, Nowhere to hold. Clouds are passing, And it reminds me of the stories I have never told, Those that are tied in my palm lines. The breeze moves my hair— Not strong enough to shake me But enough to remind me That I'm still alive, still breathing, Still walking, living, and thinking Between to be or not to be. I am laughing at the sun; It always shines. It shows off its power, Like the shine is forever. I feel like I could stand here endlessly, No burning. But then, The shadow faints, Not heavily— Soft, like a dream. And I pause, Like shrilling silence, It weaves its way into the trees. 17 I Love -Nesrine Hadraoui I love. I trust. I get bored. I move on. Story of my life. Until I met him. I fell— I spoke— Rejection spoke back. I kept faith, Believing it was a message from God: “A spiritual connection.” Then, I became Obsessed, Drunk, Addicted. Hang over. Tired. Waiting— Not waiting. Doing, Watching, Waiting again, Watching again. Then, I woke up. And moved on. 18